Animal-trap.



No 886,381. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. A. W. LITTLE.

ANIMAL TRAP APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1908.

FIG. 2'

FIG. 6

7////////////////4 WWW %WITNESSES [NIENTOP 46.41%

ALONZO'W. LITTLE, oF'ooLE'sr/rLLE, NEW JERSEY.

. ANIMAL-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo W. LITTLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Colesville, in the county of Sussexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and.-

useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal traps of that character embodying pivoted trap doors adapted to swing downwardly when the animalencroaches beyond the pivot point, thus proved apparatus.

practical longitudinal sectional view taken projecting him into a receptacle, of suitable character over which, the trap is adapted to be placed. Traps of this character are however, open to the objection that the animal is frequently able to back himself if he has not proceeded beyond the pivot point, very impetuously.

The object of my invention, is therefore, to provide certain means which will necessitate the animal landing upon the trap door squarely.

Another object of my invention is to provide such means which will further tend to force the animal downwardly.

With this and other objects in view, .my invention specifically resides in the following features of construction, arrangement and operation, to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several figures, and inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective View of my im- Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof on an enlar ed scale, and Fig. 3 is a therethrough on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I provide a foundation board 5 having a longitudinal opening therein, in which opening are pivotally mounted a pair of swinging trap doors 6 and 7, by central pivot bars 8, extending between the sides of said opening and having their ends journaled in the foundation board 5. Thetrap doors 6, are laced end to end and horizontally alined as s iown, the outer ends thereof being su ported upon shoulders 9 projecting from t 1e foundation board 5, at the ends of its 0 ening and thus n'ecessitatin the approac Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 28, 1908. Serial No. 413,127.

hung upon the hook 13.

Patented May 5, 1908. g

,A housin is provided fromthe opening in which the oors 6 and 7 are-mounted, said housing comprising vertical walls 10 extend- ,ing over the foundation board 5- along the lon itudinaled e of its opening, said vertical walls being bricIged by a strip .11 secured between the upper edges of said walls 10 and provided centrally with an opening having a removable cover 12 to fit therein, said cover having a centrally depending hook l3, alined above the inner adjacent ends of the trap doors 6, as shown in Fig. 3, and adapted to.

receive the bait thereon. In this construction, the animal enters between the walls 10, and proceeds beyond the pivot 8 'of the trap doors, in order that he may reach the bait In doing so, he encroaches upon the inner ends of the trap doors 6 and 7, and-the same being free to swing downwardly, the animal will, in the majority of cases, be precipitated below' the foundation board 5, into any suitable receptacle over which the same is placed, such as a barrel or pail, having a quantity of water or other liquid therein. In this construction, however, the animal in a number of instances, is able to sink his claws into the shorter walls 10 or the ad'acent trap door, especially if he proceeds sfowly and swings the trap door gradually. He may even retain his balance and retreat to safety. In order to prevent the animal regaining his freedom after once witl-rin t lie '..walls 10, I provide bridging stri sginoun'ted transversely )etween the vertica wallsijlO, and arranged above and parallel with the pivot 8. The strips 14 may be stationarily secured between the walls 10, or they may be provided with circularly reduced ends 15, fitting loosely through circular openings in, the walls 10, thus allowing said strips 14 to rotate and to assist in throwing the animal off of his balance.

It will be readily seen that in entering between the walls 10 to reach the bait hung upon the hook 13, the animal will necessarily have to crawl or jump over the bridge pieces 14, which in either event, will cause him to of has heretofore been the case. Also, should the animal beyond the pivot 8, when said i the animal by any chance, retain a grip upon doors will be swung on said pivot as shown I in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

the bridging piece 14, the outer ends of the trap doors 6 and 7 will precipitate him therei from when the same moves upwardly thereagainst, as is shown in Fig. 3,

Having fully described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In an animal trap of the character described, the combination with a pivoted trap door, of an obstruction, in the form of a strip mounted parallel with and above the pivot of said door, in order to force the animal to descend heavily upon the downwardly swing-4, ing end thereof, substantially as described.

2. In an animal trap of the character described, the combination with a pivoted trap I door, of an obstruction, arranged above, the point of pivot thereof, in order to cause the animal to descend heavily upon the downwardly swinging end. of said trap door, sub

stantially as described.

3. In an animal trap of the character described, the combination with a pivoted trap door, of an obstruction in the form of'a rotatable'stri arranged above the oint of pivot of sai trap door, in order to 'orce the animal to descend heavil and off his balance, upon the downward y swinging end of said trap door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l a my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

ALONZQ W. LITTLE. Witnesses:

WiLLIAM S. MoCoY,

' FLOYD DOTY. 

